Consumer Frequently Asked Questions

• What is smartfiber®?
• How does the fiber in Citrucel with smartfiber® work?
• Does Contac contain aspirin?
• Can I take Contac with other medications?
• How do Debrox® Drops work?
• How do I use Debrox® Drops?
• What are the benefits of daily aspirin therapy with Ecotrin®?
• What does enteric-coated mean?
• How much elemental iron does Feosol® contain?
• What is the source of iron in each of the Feosol® products?
• Should Gaviscon® tablets foam in your mouth before you swallow?
• How soon after eating should Gaviscon® be taken?
• Why are Geritol® Tablets so large?
• What additives does Geritol® Complete contain?
• What does Gly-oxide do?
• How much calcium do I need?
• How much Os-Cal should I be taking?
• How does Phazyme® work?
• How long will the effects of Phazyme® last?
• How does Sominex® work?
• Is Sominex® habit forming?
• When can I take Tagamet HB 200®?
• How does Tagamet HB 200® achieve such long-lasting relief?
• What does Vivarin® do? Is it habit forming?
• How does Vivarin® work?

Question: What is smartfiber®?^ TOP

Answer: smartfiber® is derived from cellulose which occurs naturally in plants and is the most abundant, renewable fiber on earth. With nature at its core, smartfiber® is designed to be less harsh on your system. So it doesn't cause excess gas and bloating.* And smartfiber® is smart - because it works. smartfiber® is proven to help restore and maintain regularity. smartfiber® is 0% fermentable, so unlike psyllium, smartfiber® cannot, will not cause excess gas or bloating. Now that is smartfiber®! *Based on laboratory testing. Individual results may vary.

Question: How does the fiber in Citrucel with smartfiber® work?^ TOP

Answer: Fiber, which is not digested in the body, can absorb up to 30 times its own weight in water, so that material in the digestive tract can take on bulk and a soft texture as it passes through the body. Fiber helps to prevent stools from becoming excessively loose, or dry and hard. If you suffer from diarrhea, the bulk that fiber creates may lead to larger stools and help "slow you down." Bulkier stools are eliminated more easily than hard, pellet-like stools. So, if you suffer from constipation, fiber may help "speed you up." Fiber regulates - naturally.

Click here for more FAQs about Citrucel

Question: Does Contac contain aspirin?^ TOP

Answer: No. Contac contains the analgesic acetaminophen.

Question: Can I take Contac with other medications?^ TOP

Answer: Drug interaction precautions appear on the back label of every Contac box. When in doubt, it is best to consult with your doctor or pharmacist.

Question: How do Debrox® Drops work?^ TOP

Answer: Debrox® penetrates, softens and facilitates removal of earwax, without causing the wax to swell. Upon direct contact with earwax, carbamide peroxide releases oxygen to form dense foam. The effervescent action softens and loosens earwax, producing a cleansing, debriding effect.

Question: How do I use Debrox® Drops?^ TOP

Answer: Debrox® Drops should be used twice a day for up to a total of 4 days if needed, or as directed by a physician. Please refer to the Drug Facts section of the label for complete directions.

Click here for more FAQs about Debrox

Question: What are the benefits of daily aspirin therapy with Ecotrin®?^ TOP

Answer: Aspirin therapy with Ecotrin® helps keep the blood from clotting. By keeping the blood thin and keeping it flowing, Ecotrin® can help to contribute to your heart health. The FDA approves aspirin therapy with Ecotrin® under a doctor's supervision to reduce the risk of a heart attack. In fact, Ecotrin® is specially designed for daily use.

Cardiologists recommend Ecotrin® more than any other brand of aspirin. You should talk to your doctor about Ecotrin® Aspirin therapy. Ecotrin® also provides relief from both pain and inflammation of arthritis and rheumatism.

Question: What does enteric-coated mean?^ TOP

Answer: Enteric-coated is a specific coating on Ecotrin aspirin that prevents the aspirin from dissolving in the stomach. Instead, it dissolves and is absorbed in the small intestine, where most nutrients and drugs are absorbed anyway. Thus, the stomach lining is protected from irritation.

Question: How much elemental iron does Feosol® contain?^ TOP

Answer: Feosol® Caplets contain 45 mg. of elemental iron per tablet.

Feosol® Tablets contain 65 mg. of elemental iron per tablet.

Question: What is the source of iron in each of the Feosol® products?^ TOP

Answer: Feosol® Caplets contain Carbonyl iron.

Feosol® Tablets contain Ferrous Sulfate.

Question: Should Gaviscon® tablets foam in your mouth before you swallow?^ TOP

Answer: Yes. Raft / foam formation is triggered when the Gaviscon® tablet is chewed. The Gaviscon® liquid requires contact with stomach acid to begin raft formation. For best results, follow by drinking half of a glass of water. Note: Any liquid consumption should occur with or immediately following recommended dosage of Gaviscon product. Later eating or drinking may degrade the foam barrier.

Question: How soon after eating should Gaviscon® be taken?^ TOP

Answer: As soon as symptoms occur.

Click here for more FAQs about Gaviscon

Question: Why are Geritol® Tablets so large?^ TOP

Answer: As with other vitamin and mineral products, size is directly related to the amount of nutrients product contains. Geritol® Complete contains 26 different vitamins and minerals.

Question: What additives does Geritol® Complete contain?^ TOP

Answer: Geritol® Complete does not contain artificial sweeteners or added starch. Additionally, there are no added preservatives and no chemical solvents used in the production of Geritol® Complete.

Question: What does Gly-oxide do?^ TOP

Answer: Used routinely, Gly-Oxide:

• Kills odor-forming germs.
• Foams and flushes out food particles ordinary brushing can miss.
• Cleans stains from orthodontics/dentures/bridgework better than brushing alone.
• Helps maintain oral hygiene when regular brushing is inadequate or impossible.

Question: How much calcium do I need?^ TOP

Answer: Recommended levels of calcium are highest for individuals in their teen years as this is a critical period for building bone. Aside from those critical teen years, calcium intake generally increases with a person's age. And while many of us think that our current intake levels are adequate, more than 75% of all Americans are not getting enough calcium in their diet. In fact, 90% of women over 50 and 99% of women over 70 are not getting enough calcium from their diet.

Question: How much Os-Cal should I be taking?^ TOP

Answer: The generalized guidelines on the amount of calcium you should be getting suggest a daily intake of 1000-1500 mg of calcium per day. It is always best to consult with your doctor on what your specific calcium requirements may be.

Click here for more FAQs about Os-Cal

Question: How does Phazyme® work?^ TOP

Answer: Simethicone, the active ingredient in Phazyme®, is a defoaming agent. It acts to reduce the surface tension of gas bubbles embedded in mucus in the GI tract. As surface tension is altered, the gas bubbles are broken or coalesced so that the gas can be eliminated more easily by the body (belching or passing flatus).

Question: How long will the effects of Phazyme® last?^ TOP

Answer: The effects of Phazyme® last about three hours.

Question: How does Sominex® work?^ TOP

Answer: Sominex® contains the active ingredient diphenhydramine HCl, which will induce drowsiness and will help you fall asleep. It will provide approximately six to eight hours of restful sleep.

Question: Is Sominex® habit forming?^ TOP

Answer: No. Not as long as you take it as directed and it is helping you to fall asleep. However, if you feel you need to take it for an extended period of time, you might have another sleep condition that needs the attention of a doctor.

Question: When can I take Tagamet HB 200®?^ TOP

Answer: To relieve heartburn, acid indigestion or sour stomach, Tagamet HB 200® can be taken at the first signs of discomfort. To prevent heartburn, acid indigestion or sour stomach, Tagamet HB 200® can be taken right before or any time up to 30 minutes before eating food or drinking beverages that cause heartburn, acid indigestion or sour stomach.

Question: How does Tagamet HB 200® achieve such long-lasting relief?^ TOP

Answer: Tagamet HB 200® is the result of a revolutionary discovery that earned British scientist Sir James Black a joint Nobel Prize. In the late 1970s, Black studied a hormone called histamine and its role in acid production in the stomach. Histamine attaches to specific cells in the lining of the stomach, stimulating them to produce stomach acid. Black discovered a chemical that "blocks" histamine from attaching to these stomach cells. This reduces the production of stomach acid for eight hours or longer. In 1995, the Food and Drug Administration approved H2 blockers for over-the-counter heartburn medication, and Tagamet HB 200® was introduced. By keeping stomach acid production low, Tagamet HB 200® prevents heartburn from returning.

Question: What does Vivarin® do? Is it habit forming?^ TOP

Answer: Vivarin® is approved by the FDA to help restore mental alertness or wakefulness when experiencing fatigue or drowsiness. Vivarin® is not habit forming when taken as directed.

Question: How does Vivarin® work?^ TOP

Answer: Caffeine acts as a vasoconstrictor. This means that caffeine narrows the arteries and blood vessels, which allows blood to pump faster. As blood pumps faster, more blood goes through the brain, which gives a feeling of stimulation. Hence, Vivarin® is a non-habit-forming stimulant.